The largest Windows 11 update to date has just begun rolling out, and it’s already causing issues.
There were complaints of significant performance drops just three days following the 2022 Update’s official release by Microsoft. However, that is not the only problem that has arisen. Others have mentioned issues with their audio being cut off or even the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSoD).
Problems arise only on devices with Nvidia GPUs, making vulnerable any laptop, desktop, or tablet with an Nvidia graphics card. Even though Nvidia claims that the latest beta version of GeForce Experience resolves the difficulties, several users have reported that they continue despite the update.
Therefore, if you haven’t already done so, you should postpone installing the 2022 Update. Plenty of useful features make it a must-have, but not at the expense of usability.
The issue could even prevent you from upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. At least one team-owned laptop that was upgrade-eligible early last week is now displaying a warning claiming a “temporary hold” has been put on it, and the Download & Install option has vanished.
There is no confirmed ETA for a repair, and it’s possible we won’t see one until October 11 (the next scheduled “Patch Tuesday”). File Explorer tabs are also anticipated around this time, thus they may be rolled into the same upgrade.
Not all computers with Nvidia graphics processing units are vulnerable, but it should be easy to tell if yours is. The most obvious evidence is stuttering and significant reductions in framerate during gameplay, but latency while browsing the web or intermittent sound are other possible indicators. Disabling the Nvidia GPU in Device Manager may help you get around the issue if your laptop has both Nvidia and integrated graphics.
According to Windows Latest, Microsoft received reports of similar problems in June, when testing of the upgrade began. That these weren’t fixed before the final version was made available to the public is perplexing.
If your laptop or desktop computer has an AMD or Intel graphics card, though, you shouldn’t let that deter you. My Intel-powered laptop’s integrated graphics worked fine after I installed the 2022 Update.
Since its release last year, Windows 11 has been plagued by a number of issues. We certainly hope this isn’t indicative of how the 2022 Update will pan out.
